When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, Sermons
I. CONSIDER THE POLICY OF THIS EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER. Many things we admire in Joseph, but we must not be blind to the fact that he thought more of binding the people to the throne than of benefiting the people themselves. He was the first statesman of that day. His policy determined in great measure what should be the standard of internal prosperity, and what position the country should hold in the eyes of other nations. He sought to make Pharaoh's rule absolute. He gave no benefit without payment, no supplies without sacrifice. He took all the money first (Genesis 47:14), then the cattle (ibid. ver. 16), then the lands and their persons (ibid. ver. 23). He thus reduced the people of Egypt to the position of slaves. He made all the land crown lands. Thus the monarch was pleased, and the priests, being exempt, were flattered. It is possible that in this Joseph laid the foundation of that system of mismanagement, which has made the most flourishing spot in the world the basest of kingdoms. He seems also to have striven to give some sort of preeminence to his brethren, and to advance them. Exempt from the burdens pressing on others, they gained power, and would have become eventually the dominant race in Egypt, but that another Pharaoh arose who knew not Joseph, i.e. who, although he knew of his having lived and served the nation, yet recognized not his policy. The state to which Joseph reduced the Egyptians was that to which afterwards his own descendants were reduced. Thus our plans are overthrown. Time tries success, and by removing dimness from our vision enables us to test it better. II. CONSIDER THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THIS EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER, He was soon led to conform to the spirit and practice of an ungodly nation. He used a divining cup (Genesis 44:15, 16), took his meals apart (Genesis 43:32), recognizing and sustaining class distinctions. He learned the mode of speech common among the Egyptians, swore by the life of Pharaoh (Genesis 42:15), and was affianced to an idolatress, probably a priestess (Genesis 41:45). He made no effort to return to his own land, or to the pastoral life of his fathers. It was in his power also for nine years to have sent to make search for his father, who was sorrowing for him as dead, but he sent not. Not until trouble, by an apparent chance, drove his brethren to him did he appear to think of them, or of home and Jacob. When they came he was very slow to make known himself, as though he feared it might compromise him in the eyes of the Egyptians to be known to have relatives who were shepherds, an occupation which was abominable to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34). When he revealed himself to them, it was without the knowledge or presence of the Egyptians. He removed his brethren also to a distant part of Egypt: that they might not constantly, by their presence, remind him and others of his origin. We fancy that Joseph had weaknesses and imperfections such as other men had. He had dwelt in Egypt and caught its spirit. In the names he gave to his children there seems some indication of regret at his forgetfulness and wonder at his fruitfulness. Amid views that might depress there is some brightness. His forgiveness of his brethren was noble. His affection for his father returned. His faith in God was pure at last. Dying, he "gave commandment concerning his bones." He showed that though outwardly an Egyptian, he was inwardly an Israelite. - H.
Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians. I. JOSEPH'S ADMINISTRATION.1. It showed great prudence and skill. 2. It showed a spirit of dependence upon God. 3. It was the exhibition of a character worthy of the highest confidence. II. Lessons: 1. How quickly adversity awaits upon prosperity. 2. What an advantage to have a true and powerful friend in the day of calamity. 3. God often brings about His purposes of love and mercy by affliction. (T. H. Leale.) 1. The king was only to be approached through Joseph (ver. 55). So with Jesus (John 14:6). 2. The king commanded that Joseph should be obeyed (ver. 55; see John 5:23). 3. In all the land no other could open a storehouse save Joseph (see John 3:35). II. JOSEPH WAS A FIT PERSON TO BE THUS AUTHORIZED TO OPEN THE STOREHOUSES, 1. He planned the storehouses, and was justly appointed to control them (vers. 33-36, 38). 2. He carried out the storage, and so proved himself practical as well as inventive (ver. 49). 3. He did it on a noble scale (ver. 49). 4. He had wisdom to distribute well (see Colossians 1:9; John 1:16). III. JOSEPH ACTUALLY OPENED THE STOREHOUSES. 1. For this purpose he filled them. Grace is meant to be used. 2. To have kept them closed would have been no gain to him. 3. He opened them at a fit time (vers. 55, 56). 4. He kept them open while the famine lasted. IV. JOSEPH OPENED THE STOREHOUSE TO ALL COMERS. Yet Joseph did but sell, while Jesus gives without money. V. JOSEPH ACQUIRED POSSESSION OF ALL EGYPT FOR THE KING. Full submission and consecration are the grand result of infinite love. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) 2. The fruitfulest land becometh barren if God speak the word; even Egypt. 3. Periods of full conditions are observable by men; God's Spirit notes them (ver. 54). 4. In the design of Providence, wants succeed plenty at the heels. 5. Entrance of dearth, though grievous, yet may make but small impression on souls. 6. Not a word of God falleth to the ground, but as He saith, so it is. 7. Providence orders lands for scarcity as well as plenty. 8. God can give bread to Egypt when He denieth it to other nations for His own ends (ver. 54). (G. Hughes, B. D.) 1. Providence orders some countries to depend on others for their sustenance.2. Wants make nations stoop and seek about for the support of life. 3. Grace can make poor captives become preservers of nations. 4. Sore plagues may be made to make men inquire after and prize abused mercies. 5. General judgments are sent to manifest God's special ends of grace to His (ver. 57). (G. Hughes, B. D.) Egypt's indebtedness to Joseph was, in fact, twofold. In the first place he succeeded in doing what many strong governments have failed to do: he enabled a large population to survive a long and severe famine. Even with all modern facilities for transport and for making the abundance of remote countries available for times of scarcity, it has not always been found possible to save our own fellow-subjects from starvation. In a prolonged famine which occurred in Egypt during the middle ages, the inhabitants, reduced to the unnatural habits which are the most painful feature of such times, not only ate their own dead, but kidnapped the living on the streets of Cairo and consumed them in secret. One of the most touching memorials of the famine with which Joseph had to deal is found in a sepulchral inscription in Arabia. A flood of rain laid bare a tomb in which lay a woman having on her person a profusion of jewels which represented a very large value. At her head stood a coffer filled with treasure, and a tablet with this inscription: "In Thy name, O God, the God of Himyar, I, Tayar, the daughter of Dzu Shefar, sent my steward to Joseph, and he delaying to return to me, I sent my handmaid with a measure of silver to bring me back a measure of flour; and not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of gold; and not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of pearls; and not being able to procure it, I commanded them to be ground; and finding no profit in them, I am shut up here." If this inscription is genuine — and there seems no reason to call it in question — it shows that there is no exaggeration in the statement of our narrator that the famine was very grievous in other lands as well as Egypt. And, whether genuine or not, one cannot but admire the grim humour of the starving woman getting herself buried in the jewels which had suddenly dropped to less than the value of a loaf of bread. But besides being indebted to Joseph for their preservation, the Egyptians owed to him an extension of their influence; for, as all the lands round about became dependent on Egypt for provision, they must have contracted a respect for the Egyptian administration. They must also have added greatly to Egypt's wealth, and during those years of constant traffic many commercial connections must have been formed which in future years would be of untold value to Egypt. But, above all, the permanent alterations made by Joseph on their tenure of land, and on their places of abode, may have convinced the most sagacious of the Egyptians that it was well for them that their money had failed, and that they had been compelled to yield themselves unconditionally into the hands of this remarkable ruler. It is the mark of a competent statesman that he makes temporary distress the occasion for permanent benefit; and from the confidence Joseph won with the people, there seems every reason to believe that the permanent alterations he introduced were considered as beneficial as certainly they were bold. And for our own spiritual uses it is this point which seems chiefly important. In Joseph is illustrated the principle that, in order to the attainment of certain blessings, unconditional submission to God's delegate is required.(M. Doris, D. D.) William Bridge says: There is enough in Jesus Christ to serve us all. If two, or six, or twenty men be athirst, and they go to drink out of a bottle, while one is drinking, the other envies, because he thinks there will not be enough for him too; but if a hundred be athirst, and go to the river, while one is drinking, the other envies not, because there is enough to serve them all."Dr. Conyers was for some years a preacher before he had felt the power of the gospel. As he was reading his Greek Testament he came to Ephesians 3:8: "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." "Riches of Christ!" said he to himself;" 'Unsearchable riches of Christ!' What have I preached of these? What do I know of these?" Under the blessing of the Spirit of God he was thus awakened to a new life and a new ministry. Are there not some yet living who might put to their own consciences similar questions?( C. H. Spurgeon.) All the spiritual blessings wherewith the Church is enriched are in and by Christ. The apostle instances some of the choicest (Ephesians 1:3). Our election is by Him (ver. 4). Our adoption is by Him (ver. 5). Our redemption and remission of sins are both through Him. All the gracious transactions between God and His people are through Christ. God loves us through Christ; He hears our prayers through Christ; He forgives us all our sins through Christ. Through Christ He justifies us; through Christ He sanctifies us; through Christ Pie upholds us; through Christ He perfects us. All His relations to us are through Christ; all we have is from Christ; all we expect to have hangs upon Him. He is the golden hinge upon which all our salvation turns.(Ralph Robinson.) If any of the people of Egypt had refused to go to Joseph, they would have despised not Joseph only, but the king, and would have deserved to be denied that sustenance which he only could give them. Are not the despisers of our great Redeemer in like manner despisers of His Father, who has set Him as His King upon the holy hill of Zion?... If Joseph had thrown open his storehouses before the Egyptians felt the pressure of hunger, they might soon have wasted the fruits of his prudent care... Hunger, though very unpleasant, is often more useful than fulness of bread. They were very willing to give the price demanded for their food as long as their money lasted. What is the reason why so many are unwilling to come and receive wine and milk without money and without price? They feel no appetite for it. They are not sensible of their need of it.(George Lawson, D. D.). People Asenath, Egyptians, Joseph, Manasseh, Pharaoh, Potipherah, ZaphnathpaaneahPlaces Egypt, Nile River, OnTopics Abundance, Completed, Egypt, Ended, Plenteousness, Plenty, Prevailed, SevenOutline 1. Pharaoh has two dreams.9. Joseph interprets them. 33. He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married. 46. The seven years of plenty. 50. He begets children. 53. The famine begins. Dictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 41:53 4823 famine, physical Library The Covenant of WorksQ-12: I proceed to the next question, WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED? A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge upon pain of death. For this, consult with Gen 2:16, 17: And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt … Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Earliest Chapters in Divine Revelation Man's Chief End The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt Second Great Group of Parables. The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It. Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud Genesis Links Genesis 41:53 NIVGenesis 41:53 NLT Genesis 41:53 ESV Genesis 41:53 NASB Genesis 41:53 KJV Genesis 41:53 Bible Apps Genesis 41:53 Parallel Genesis 41:53 Biblia Paralela Genesis 41:53 Chinese Bible Genesis 41:53 French Bible Genesis 41:53 German Bible Genesis 41:53 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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